I had a blast running the WDW Marathon in Orlando yesterday. I finished in 4:34, a PR for me. My wave started at 6am, at which time the weather was ideal for running. Around 8am the sun came out and was blazing, however, it didn't really affect me as much as some of the other runners. I ran with a hydration belt and used some of the water stops as well. Being well hydrated helped me stay cool as well. Although there were a lot of dead zones in the race I never got bored, I think I was really having fun with how well I felt. I finished the first half in 2:22, which is 20 minutes slower than my slowest half marathon time. It was a combination of the crowd (27,000 started) and me holding back. At mile 14 I started to pick it up some, it started to thin just a bit and I was feeling really good. Miles 14-21.5 were awesome, around mile 21.5 I guess my legs realized I was running a marathon, LOL, because they didn't want to move as fast as I would have liked and starting back up after walking through water stops became harder. I didn't stop at the last water stop because of how hard it was to get back going again. So miles 21.5 to 25 were pretty sluggish but I was smiling the entire time, which shocked me once I realized it. At mile 25 i decided I was going to stop running like I was hurting and run as strong as my aching legs would allow me. I was able to finish strong and with the biggest feeling of accomplishment I've ever felt after a marathon, this being my third, and the awesome finisher medal helps too, LOL. Disney really put on an amazing event. If you ever have the opportunity I'd suggest making the trip. One day I'll think about the Goofy Challenge but for now I'll just enjoy this feeling.

degregorius - Uh, Counselor, I'm sure the alleged snow in Chicago had a sufficient alibi to render any witnesses not credible. You said a milimeter? Will you be presenting any expert testimony on this alleged snow? LOL

Francesmom - that's a good goal to have! There are a lot of Marie S. on DM - I'm Deborah M. from Boston - same profile pic as here - see if you can find me? OnMapMyRun I'm either Deborah M. or debm2011

MelodyLea - teen shuttling trumps everything.

Jeff - FR on DM sent. I'm from the suburbs just north of Boston. Love the chickens!

MaryKay - I am amazed and impressed by your tenacity!

DSJ80 - Awesome race report! And great photo. Disney races sound like so much fun.

No run today - active rest day, i.e. slept in all the way to 5:45 (woohoo), full day at work, 4 miles on the Expresso Bike at the Y and then a circuit of weights.

I ran a lovely 3.5 miles Monday morning. It was so warm! Even though there was dense fog, the temps were balmy at 40 degrees. I ended up in shirt sleeves and bare arms which felt fabulous! My goal this week is 20 miles, and since I missed my 10 mile run on Sun. that's going to mean 5 runs back to back.

JEFF CT Love them chickens!

LeighDS Sweat is GOOD.

Francessmom Awe, our kiddos....

mkayc I really admire the HR work you are dong. It sounds so complicated to me (but it doesn't take much to confuse me with numbers, LOL)!

DSJ80ABSOLUTELY Fantastic! Bravo! Good for you on such a successful marathon.

jmsab23 Nice TM work. I set up an account on runningahead.com , but it will be a drag to start all over with profile etc. I don't see a thread there that looks familiar. NHLA? Do you have something started?

Another strong 4 miles this morning! Not nearly so warm as yesterday (at 27 degrees)...back to the normal for us. Still, it was a beautiful sunny day in the Berkshire Mountains, and I killed my hilly 4 mile route. Three down and 2 to go for my 5 running days in a row and 20 miles for the week goal.

MaryKay - I admire your dedication to the HR method. It sounds like you have to take a few steps back to then move ahead. Keep going!

Melody - It is colder here too. From 50's yesterday to 38 today. We haven't had sun in days! You are lucky!

Yesterday (Monday) I went to Y for Zumba and followed that with a new class Kobu and Core. Kobu is a martial Arts based workout using a weighted bar like a sword. So the class is 20 minutes of sword/martial arts followed by 25 minutes of core work also using the bar. The core workout was brutal. My ab, ribs and obliques are screaming today! So I warmed up with a 2 mile dog walk hoping it would work some of the soreness out. Then ran 3.6 miles in 32 minutes. I had to walk twice for about a minutes each time because my right obliques kept cramping and I couldn't breathe deep enough. But I got it done. This tells me that I need to work on my core.

Stay healthy and run happy!

Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.Confucius

This club is offering 7 days free in Jan. for potentional members which I am taking advantage of; huge PRO: close to home.

It's 24/7 with membership, great updated machines, plenty of TMs and offers classes in late afternoons.

Gets pretty full and busy after 3 pm, 2 restrooms for M/F, one room with a shower for M/F, about 20 lockers which are all taken.

Personal belongings are kept in open area in cubby holes or on racks by narrow entrance which gets crowded.

Staff consist of 2 individuals and only at certain hours.

It was a balmy 14 degrees for the high yesterday with below zero temps each night.

Snow and ice makes for icy road conditions so not taking any chances on running outside.

Thus, really NEED to be friends with TM.

Thinking of registering for HM in St. Paul on 26th ................

Melody: wow, even 27 degrees for you is like being in the tropics!! Only 2 days to go, WAY TO GO!!

DSJ80: AWESOME!!! Seems like you got the marathon bug!! Ain't it marvelous to cross the finish line?!? CONGRATS!!

JMsab: I'm not much for FB, daughter has to text me my login stuff to check out grandbabies recent photos on FB which she set up for me because she knows I (and my son-in-law) are the only TWO holdouts on the planet, . So not sure if I will like DM ...........

MelodyLea - ambitious goal 5 days in a row - but if anyone can do it, you can. Bracing for more snow tomorrow? We're only forecast to get an inch or so mixing with rain (ick) but I think Worcester and West is getting real snow.

Francesmom - sounds like an intense class! take a rest day and let those muscles recover.

az - 10.1 miles on the TM? Not only have you made friends with the TM,but it's given you the keys to TM City. Even more amazing is all the rest of the workout around it.

OldCoyote - I hope you're enjoying your rest week.

3.15 miles this morning, but outdoors again yay! About 37 degrees so not too bad. Really tired, though - I hit the snooze alarm for an hour before getting out of bed. But get out of bed I did. Back on Weight Watchers - for real this time, not the slacker way I tried over the holidays - so I need those Activity Points wherever I can get them.

Ahhahahaha, Deb, I'm right there w you on WW. Registered online and day 2 lackluster. Got my run on, though. 4.65 m on TM, 1:22:35. Packing 4 travel to Paduca n wondering how to get my run in Thursday. Plenty of real estate. No time. So help me, I refuse to slack off this year. If I go down, I'm going down running.

Did the 20-min. hill workout on the TM again tonight. Once a week now for the past trhree weeks. It goes up to 9.0 and then 10 incline setting, with a 5.8 - 6.0 mph speed, for about 5 straight minutes in the middle of the workout. I can handle it at that speed, and it's a good hill workout, so I'm actually beginning to like it. The next preset, the 25-minute one, is quite a significant jump from this one. It may take me a while before I try that one again. After the 20 minutesd (1.66 miles), I ran another 1.33 miles to make 3 total, 29:38.

AZ2MN.... You seem to like this gym, yet seem apprehensive about leaving your belongings out in the open. Is there someplace you can chain your locked duffel bag to? Even if it's a small chain.

Melody.... I know you can do 5 days in a row!!!

Francessmom..... Even with that soreness, you gutted out 3.6 miles!!!! Excellent job!!!